Which compositing software for effects?

[beenyweenies]

Hi there. Im new here. Which compositing software should I learn for mainly effects and particles?

I have heard of Combustion, Apple Shake, Digital Fusion and After effects, and particle illusion for particles. I hear combustion has particle illusion integrated..

I guess each s oftware has its own goodness but which would you learn the most for effects? cheers.

AE isn't generally used for particles. While there is the quite excellent Trapcode Particular plugin, it isn't anywhere near as good as Particular Illusion. My personal opinion is that the learning curve on Combustion is steeper than AE's. For what you are interested in doing, I would recommend Combustion or maybe Shake.

[efecto]

Particle Illusion helped making the "300".

http://www.vfxtalk.com/forum/particleillusion-helps-mechanism-digital-make-t9467.html?t=9467


Digital Fusion seems to have nice particles simulation.
http://www.pluginz.com/vendor/527?genre=5

http://www.cmivfx.com/product_fusion_cpart.asp
http://www.cmivfx.com/product_fusion_advpar.asp

http://www.cmivfx.com/i/fusion/advpar/more/sun_after.jpg

I also would like to know which compositing software is an ideal to learn for effects stuff like particles..

[Mylenium]

I also would like to know which compositing software is an ideal to learn for effects stuff like particles..

Depends on what effects you need. particleIllusion is great for mass numbers of particles since it uses OpenGL and renders them quickly. Since combustion* shares the same routines, the same rules apply. The downside is that the particles are strictly 2D and you cannot fly around them with correct perspective, so they are mostly only useful for locked-camera shots. Particular in AE is 3D, but has some limitations and is mostly useful if you only need one or two particle sources in your scene and they act in a very controlled manner. For bolder stuff you more or less can't avoid Fusion or a 3D program (which might be even cheaper than getting fusion).

Mylenium

[mackdadd]

also, it depends on what your goal is. Are you wanting to learn particles to do effects at a major effects facility? Cause if that's the case, you want to learn Houdini.

[scrimski]

Cause if that's the case, you want to learn Houdini.

Care to elaborate that? I know there some app called Houdini, but I never touched it and don't know anybody who is working with it, so I'm curious.

[mackdadd]

Houdini's a 3d package which has become the standard for creating effects in films. By effects, I don't mean CG animals or creatures or and kind of compositing. In the big fx houses, there "effects" departments, which handle things like particles, sprays, dust when a character stomps his foot, pixie dust, things like that. Snow, rain, lava eruptions, whatever...

From their site

Houdini is world renowned for its visual effects that arise from the integration of the most powerful set of particle tools in the industry. In Houdini these particles integrate easily with other parts of the pipeline to create a complete and procedural effects environment. Each particle simulation is comprised of a network of nodes ordered specifically to meet the needs of the shot. You can use Houdini to create fast and stunning effects such as fire, white water, insects, tornadoes, crowd simulations and more. These effects can then be easily re-purposed for other shots and even other projects.

It's particles

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=398&Itemid=206


films Houdini has been used in

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=44&Itemid=88

[DuttyFoot]

here is the link for houdini. i think there is a free learning edition to download.

http://www.sidefx.com/

[halkyon]

Yep. Thanks for replies guys.

I had already put my foot in Houdni recently! I know a bit about may's dynamiocs/particles, but takes some time to get used to its interface ;) Maya is still a good app.

Fusion looks like a good ap for me for particles as it's used for many films for the sake.
Combustion also has particleillusion in it, that seems cool too!

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